GMT

Today in History: April 13

1598 The Edict of Nantes grants political rights to French Huguenots.

1860 1st Pony Express rider reaches Sacramento, California

1861 After 34 hours of bombardment, Union-held Fort Sumter surrenders to Confederates.

1902 J.C. Penny opens his first store in Kemmerer, Wyoming.

1919 British forces kill hundreds of Indian nationalists in the Amritsar Massacre.

1943 Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicates the Jefferson Memorial.

1960 The first navigational satellite is launched into Earth's orbit.

1970 An oxygen tank explodes on Apollo 13, preventing a planned moon landing and jeopardizing the lives of the three-man crew.

1976 The U.S. Federal Reserve begins issuing $2 bicentennial notes.

1979 The world's longest doubles ping-pong match ends after 101 hours.

1997Tiger Woods first person of color to win Masters

2009 US record producer Phil Spector is found guilty of second-degree murder of actress Lana Clarkson in 2003

2020 NY Governor Andrew Cuomo says “I believe the worst is over if we continue to be smart,” about the COVID-19 pandemic in New York as death toll passes 10,000

2021 US, South Africa and the EU authorities temporarily stop administrating Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines after six women developed blood clots

2023 American F.B.I. arrests 21-year-old member of Massachusetts Air National Guard for leaking classified documents, including national security secrets, on an online gaming chat group

Born on April 13

1743 Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States (1801-09)

1852 Frank W. Woolworth, American retailer.

1866 Butch Cassidy [Robert LeRoy Parker], American outlaw and leader of the Wild Bunch.

JOTD
Why did I get divorced?

Well, last week was my birthday. My wife didn't wish me a happy birthday. My parents forgot and so did my kids. I went to work and even my colleagues didn't wish me a happy birthday. As I entered my office, my secretary said, "Happy birthday, boss!" I felt so special. She asked me out for lunch. After lunch, she invited me to her apartment. We went there and she said, "Do you mind if I go into the bedroom for a minute?" "Okay," I said. She came out 5 minutes later with a birthday cake, my wife, my parents, my kids, my friends, & my colleagues all yelling, "SURPRISE!!!" while I was waiting on the sofa... naked.